When planning your ceremony there are so many things to get excited about… the dress, the flowers, the food - these are all very important parts of your day that you want to get right. However, amidst all the planning, it can be easy to forget about thee most important part of your day - your ceremony. Your ceremony is the moment when the world stops turning as you declare your undying love and vow to each other (by law) that you both freely and willingly take each other in marriage/civil partnership. Now, considering there are 8 billion people in the world, finding each other, falling in love and creating a bond so strong that you want to commit to each other is huge - I mean, also gorgeous, lovely and wonderful - but it is still huge ❤️. Therefore, that moment should be treated with the respect that it deserves, it should be the focal point of your day and everything else is built around it. This is what makes Aye Do Weddings different, as that’s our whole approach…ceremony first, everything else fits in around it.
But it’s also extremely important to choose a ceremony that fits in with your beliefs and values. Knowing which type of celebrant is right for you can be confusing. So let's unpack it a bit for you.
There are only 2 ways to get legally married in Scotland.
Registrar
Religious or Belief Group So, when you are getting legally married, the person conducting your ceremony is either a Registrar or someone who is a member of, and acting on behalf of, a Religious or Belief group.
So far so good. The first one (Registrar) is easy to understand. You, your 2 witnesses and your family & friends go along to a registry office, or the registrar comes to your venue and you have a fairly basic marriage ceremony (although many registrars do try to offer a bit more freedom in your ceremony)
It’s when it comes to the second category (Religious or Belief Group) that things tend to get a bit confusing.
The Religious or Belief category includes:
Religious
Religious Ceremonies usually take place in a religious building or place of worship in the presence of the officiator (i.e. rabbi, minister, imam) who represents the presence of the God of that religion. If you and your partner follow the same faith, you are likely to go for this type of ceremony. The content of the ceremony is usually dictated by the faith.
Rites and Rituals Scotland That's us! Rites & Rituals Scotland take a Spiritual approach to life and ceremony, and believe we are connected to a higher power. The content of the ceremony is co-created between the Celebrant & the couple. Couples are not required to join any organisation in order to be married by a Rites and Rituals Celebrant.
Interfaith Ministers (sometimes called Interfaith Celebrants)
Interfaith Ministers or Celebrants study & respect all the different faiths that exist in the world, and believe that at the heart of each faith path is the same thing… the idea we are all connected to something greater than ourselves. Interfaith Ministers take more of a spiritual approach than a religious one. If you and your partner follow different faiths, or don’t follow any particular faith but still believe in “something”, this might be the right route for you. The content of the ceremony is completely decided by the couple with guidance from the minister. Couples are not required to join any organisation in order to be married by an Interfaith Minister.
Humanist Celebrants
Yes! Humanist Celebrants are a belief group! While most folks think that all celebrants are Humanist Celebrants, that’s not the case. Humanist Celebrants have beliefs that are very much rooted in science. They believe we only have one life, and that there is nothing beyond this existence. So no God, no great mystery, no beliefs in spirituality or anything supernatural. The content of the ceremony is largely decided by the couple, but there would usually be no religious or spiritual content allowed (prayers, hymns, blessings.) Couples are sometimes required to join a Humanist organisation, and pay a membership fee in order to be married by a Humanist Celebrant.
Agnostic Celebrants
Agnostics believe the existence or non-existence of a God cannot be proved either way. The content of a ceremony is completely decided by the couple with guidance from the celebrant. Couples are not required to join Agnostic Scotland in order to be married by one of their Celebrants.
These are some of the main belief groups, but there are a few others, and all these groups can marry you anywhere in Scotland. The main thing is that you and your partner choose a celebrant or minister who aligns closely with your shared beliefs. And if you’re not sure what they are, talk to different ministers and celebrants till you find one who feels like a friend. That way, you will not only get the ceremony you deserve, you will get the ceremony you need. And we’re always happy to chat if you want to know more/feel lost!
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